A brush fire that erupted Wednesday in Mead Valley scorched roughly 50 acres and threatened houses before it was partially contained with the help of Cal Fire aircraft.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 5:20 p.m. in the area of Rider Street and Seaton Avenue, just west of Interstate 215, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said that multiple engine and hand crews from the county, the city of Riverside and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate through medium brush in a westerly direction.
Four Cal Fire air tankers and two water-dropping helicopters were summoned and initiated runs on the brusher shortly before 6 p.m., dramatically slowing its progress and enabling crews to get a partial line in front of the brusher.
Mandatory evacuations and evacuation warnings were implemented for properties fronting Old Elsinore Road, and sheriff’s deputies closed several streets in the vicinity of the blaze.
As of 6:30 p.m., all fixed-wing aircraft had departed the location, though at least one water-dropping helicopter remained available for targeted drops, according to reports from the scene.
Full containment was expected during the overnight hours or early Thursday morning.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
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